The day stretched on, the forest’s thick canopy keeping most of the sunlight at bay as Justin and the others trudged northward. For the first time in what felt like days, there was no immediate threat pressing down on them.
Even though it was bitingly cold, Justin was just glad to be outside and under the sun again, even if that sun was mostly blocked by the forest’s thick canopy. At least here, there was no malevolent presence like the Darkwood. Still, Justin suspected that danger would increase as they descended in elevation.
The chirping of birds and signs of small game, like a snow fox poking its head from a burrow, reassured him that the world around them was relatively peaceful. At least for now.
Eldrin did not slow his pace. They ate cold boar meat as they walked, not wanting to lose any time.
It was in this quiet that the flutter of wings broke through the stillness. Shadowflight swooped down from the treetops, landing lightly on Eldrin’s shoulder. The Ranger’s face relaxed into a smile. Even Justin had to admit that seeing the falcon brought a sense of relief—though he could only hope the news the bird carried was good.
Eldrin paused, tilting his head slightly as if listening to an unseen voice. His expression gave away nothing.
“Anything?” Kargan asked, his hand tightening on his staff as if bracing for the worst.
Eldrin shook his head. “No sign of Valdrik or his men. It seems the goblins are keeping them busy.” He glanced at the forest ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the distant trees. “I’d like to be out of these mountains and into the Everwood proper before setting up camp for the night.”
At first, Justin felt a surge of relief. But his skepticism gnawed at him. Every time they thought they’d gotten away from the Baron, the man had a way of rearing his ugly head. Danger was never far away.
But more than anything, Justin was tired. Tired of running, tired of being hunted, and tired of feeling powerless. The day when he could turn the tables on the Baron felt distant, a vague hope. Even Eldrin’s plan to enlist the help of the Templars gave him pause, but he was too worn out to dwell on it.
The group pressed on as Eldrin increased their pace. Soon, the elevation dropped steadily, offering occasional glimpses of the snow-covered forest below. Justin looked back, eyes widening at the sheer height of the mountain they had descended. The progress they’d made in just a few hours was astonishing, and it spoke to the strength of Eldrin’s Pathfinder’s Pace.
As daylight faded, the temperature plummeted. Not even the heat enchantment on Justin’s clothes could fully stave off the cold. His muscles ached from the constant movement.
When it was nearly too dark to continue, Eldrin finally found them a suitable campsite—a small clearing nestled between towering trees, creating a natural barrier from the outside world. Kargan quickly cast his Ward of Aegis around the perimeter. They were safe not only from physical attack but sheltered from prying eyes and magical detection.
Eldrin started a fire before heading off to forage for anything that could improve their boar meat soup. Justin and Lila worked together to prepare the cook pot, melting snow for water, while Bohemond kept a silent vigil at the camp’s edge.
Within the hour, a basic soup bubbled over the fire, its warmth cutting through the bitter chill. As they gathered around to eat, the conversation naturally turned toward the future.
“I don’t think there’s any question,” Eldrin said, his voice low but resolute. “As long as Valdrik is alive, none of us will ever be safe. We need to reach Mont Elea. The Templars need to know about his necromancy and ambitions. Not only that, but we have to deliver the news about Alistair. It’s the least we can do. The man died so that we could escape.”
Bohemond nodded, his expression equally serious. “It’s the only course of action. However…” He hesitated, then fixed Justin with a steady gaze. “There is something I must get off my chest.
Justin braced himself. He had a feeling he knew what was coming.
Bohemond didn’t waste time. “Justin, you led me onto this expedition under false pretenses. Your intention was to use me as a shield against the Baron, with no regard for my safety or desires.”
Justin took a deep breath, weighing his words. “You’re right. And I’m sorry about that. But it was the only way to get us out of Harrington’s party alive. We’re all here because of that decision, and I promise you, Bohemond—we’ll get you back to your estate in one piece, and all the richer for your troubles.”
Bohemond’s eyes remained cold as he considered Justin’s words. The rest of the group watched the exchange closely.
“That’s all very well and good,” the Knight finally said, “but riches are not what I desire. Like all of you, the Baron will never let me rest. My goal is to fulfill the will of Arion and the Six Gods. You are a Socialite, Justin. Now a Gentleman in every sense of the word, and I believe you’ll do the right thing. At least, according to your version of it. But you were right about one thing back in Drakendir. You mentioned destiny—Arion’s will for me. That part, at least, I believe.”
His blue-eyed gaze sharpened, and for a moment, Justin felt a chill. A hint of malice flickered there, gone almost as soon as he’d spotted it. Justin was certain that without his Insightful Gaze boon, he would have missed it. It was another reminder that Bohemond was not to be trusted. He had his own agenda; what that agenda was remained to be seen.
“As an Aspirant of Arion,” Bohemond continued, his tone unyielding, “it’s my duty to see that the Templars are warned. I am committed to getting this party to Mont Elea and avenging Alistair’s death. Though I didn’t know the man, I feel a certain kinship with him. He was a Brother in the Faith, and I hope to don the white of his class someday. Valdrik cannot be allowed to wield his Death Magic. It is a blight upon all that is good.”
Kargan shifted slightly. While he didn’t practice Death Magic, his association with Chaos Magic would always be suspect in the eyes of the devout. Justin knew Bohemond would stab Kargan in the back if the opportunity ever presented itself. Justin had hoped the Vault experience might broaden Bohemond’s perspective, but that seemed unlikely.
Justin knew they needed to find a way of dropping Bohemond, but right now, it wasn’t feasible. The man was probably right that Valdrik would try to off him at the first opportunity. Not for the first time, he wondered if inviting Bohemond had been the right choice.
Eldrin’s eyes flickered toward the Knight, his expression unreadable. “We welcome your help, Bohemond of Ashcroft. Though the road ahead will be difficult.”
Bohemond’s chest puffed up with a sense of purpose. “That does not concern me. This is Arion’s mission for me. I’ve been meaning to join the Templars someday. I mean to become a Paladin, like my father before me.”
Justin couldn’t help the small snort that escaped him, though he tried to mask it as a cough.
Bohemond turned on him, his eyes flashing. “Something amusing, Socialite?”
“Not at all,” Justin replied quickly. “Please, carry on.”
Bohemond returned his attention to the fire, his voice firm. “Perhaps this is the gods’ way of telling me that my time is now. I would join you formally, if you’ll have me.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Maybe so,” Eldrin said, though his tone was noncommittal. “But we are loyal to our own. Every member of this party has a role, and that role is not to be denigrated…despite personal belief.”
As Bohemond colored, an awkward silence followed. Justin’s mind spun with the implications. He’d hoped Bohemond would sod off on his own, but the Knight’s unwavering belief in his divine mission meant he wanted to hitch a ride with them. Worse, Justin had no real reason to go to Mont Elea anymore. The Death Mark was gone, and with it, the urgency that had once driven him toward the Templars. Now, he had everything to lose by going.
Valdrik’s words haunted him still, especially what the Baron had said about the Templars’ secret mission to hunt down Earthers. Could Justin really risk exposing himself to them?
Kargan’s deep voice broke the silence. “I’ll travel with you as far as Draegor’s Keep. There’s safety in numbers, but I can’t set foot in Mont Elea. We all know why.”
Eldrin nodded in understanding. The fire crackled, casting long shadows over the group. Justin could see the Ranger weighing their options.
“The best path isn’t clear,” Eldrin admitted. “East takes us through the Everwood. It’s the most direct route, but with winter coming fast, we may need to hole up somewhere before crossing the mountains.”
“That would take months,” Lila said, shaking her head. “Months we don’t have.”
Eldrin continued. “The other option is Kaldrath, to the north. It’s not as large as Windfall, but big enough that we could hide there for a time. But with the ice closing in, the town forms a dead end. There are some Qilungit camps all along the ice if we needed to escape, but seeking them out is risky.”
“Qilungit?” Justin asked, fumbling over the unfamiliar word.
“The Ice Folk,” Lila said, as if that explained everything.
Bohemond spoke up. “What about doubling back to Thalgar’s Tunnel? We could create a false trail leading east, then head back to Windfall.”
“That’s a possibility,” Eldrin agreed. “But risky. The Baron may have left men to watch the tunnel.”
“Why not go west?” Justin asked. “It would be the last thing the Baron expects.”
Eldrin considered, taking a measured puff of his pipe. “West of Thalgar’s Tunnel? That would take us into Kurath That land is wild—frost giants, trolls, dire wolves. It was a kingdom once, when the dwarves’ power was mighty in the Seraphims. Now, only monsters haunt those ruins. It would certainly be unexpected, but dangerous.”
“Kurath is north of Daeloria,” Lila added, her tone cautious. “The Frost Trolls aren’t united anymore, but their disunity might make them even more unpredictable and dangerous.”
“And it’s completely the wrong direction,” Bohemond said stiffly, his blue eyes narrowing. “Even if we survive all that, what’s the plan? We’d have to go south for a couple of hundred miles, catch a ship at Eribar, and pass through the Velandian Locks. Then we’d have to circle all the way around to Belmora. From there, we either travel north to Mont Elea on foot or secure another ship. That journey would take several months, if not longer. Assuming we didn’t perish in Kurath.”
“Better than waiting around in the forest, or getting caught at a dead end,” Justin said.
Plus, assuming they made it through this Kurath place and south of the mountains, Justin would have plenty of opportunities to slip away during the journey. It wasn’t what he wanted to do exactly, but if Eldrin was set on going to Mont Elea, along with Bohemond, he had to consider that possibility.
“We’ll figure it out in the coming days,” Eldrin said. “We still have a few days to decide, and by then, more information will become available. We have a day’s lead, at least.”
“It’s also possible the goblins forced him to retreat,” Justin added. “Queen Grizshara seemed pretty confident of their chances.”
“Very possible,” Eldrin said. “If that’s the case, Thalgar’s Tunnel would be suicide for us. That’s the natural place the Baron would retreat to. From there, they’d either head north, hoping to catch us, or they’d go back to Windfall to reassess. Either option would be disastrous for us.”
Eldrin puffed quietly on his pipe, the ember glowing softly in the dimming firelight. Justin could tell the Ranger was mulling over their next steps. His sharp eyes flicked toward Justin, signaling a shift in the conversation. “Now that we’ve got a moment, why don’t you fill us in on everything that happened after we got separated in the tunnels?”
Justin leaned forward, warming his hands by the fire as he began recounting the events that had transpired. “It started right after the tunnel collapsed. We got followed by a bat, which led the Baron straight to us. We evaded them, though barely, and that’s when we stumbled upon the goblins in Drakendir.”
He described their unexpected alliance with the goblins and their solving of the mystery of the Vault. All listened intently.
“Bohemond and Kargan both ended up with Gold-Level items,” Justin said, wrapping up his summary. “Bohemond got a shield that makes his shield bash hit harder, and Kargan received a ring that lets him cast a Chaos Magic spell. It’s called Knives of Fury. We saw it in action when those mushroom monsters ambushed us. It’s devastating.”
Eldrin nodded thoughtfully. “Powerful items, indeed.”
Justin paused before continuing, reaching into his pack to pull out the carefully wrapped vial. “And I got this.”
He held up the vial for all to see, and its prismatic light shone on all their faces. Their eyes widened in surprise.
Justin continued. “Apparently, it’s called the All-Encompassing Draught. Glamshara, the goblin queen’s sister, wasn’t sure exactly what it would do, but she promised it’d grant me a powerful bonus once I take it. She warned me to get it assessed first, though.”
Eldrin held out a hand. “Mind if I look?”
Justin passed the potion over. Eldrin studied the contents, tipping the vial slightly in the firelight as the liquid shimmered. After a moment, he handed it back, shaking his head. “I can’t tell what it does. This is way beyond my knowledge. I can brew basic potions and poisons, but nothing on this scale. You’d need a master alchemist for that.”
“Any idea where I might find one?” Justin asked, a little deflated.
“There’s an alchemist I know in Belmora. He’s maxed out his class. If anyone can identify it, he can. If I were you, I’d take it to him.”
Justin’s face fell. Belmora was a long way off. “What if I take it now? There could be a huge benefit I’m missing out on.”
Eldrin’s expression darkened with concern. “There’s an old saying in potion making: Don’t drink what you don’t understand. This draught could be anything—it could grant you strength, or it could twist you into something unrecognizable. Better to be patient.”
Lila leaned closer. “He’s right, Justin. It’s not worth the risk without knowing more.”
Justin nodded, though reluctantly. He tucked the potion back into his pack, hoping he wouldn’t regret not using it when he had the chance.
“That’s not everything,” Justin said. He reached once more into his bag, producing the blue Alchemist Core.
At the sight of it, Lila and Eldrin were even more surprised. Lila gasped while Eldrin’s calm composure broke for a moment, his brows lifting in surprise.
“Got this, too,” Justin said, holding it up to the firelight. The core pulsed faintly, a soft azure glow emanating from its surface. “Not sure what the plan is for it yet.”
Lila blinked at him, incredulous. “You’ve been carrying that around this whole time and didn’t think to mention it?”
Justin shrugged. “Didn’t seem like the right moment. Besides, I’m still not sure what to do with it.”
Eldrin leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the core. “If you’re thinking of selling it, you could make a small fortune. Was that something you found in the Vault?”
“It was the bonus prize,” Justin said. “I was wondering if I could combine it with my core.”
“I can’t say,” Eldrin said. “Socialite it something of a rare class, so I’m not familiar with all its potential combinations. It’s something you would have to research. That isn’t possible until you reach Level 20, anyway.”
Justin knew that for him, it might work differently. He had a Prismatic Core. Maybe one property of the Prismatic Core was to take an advanced class early.
Then again, Justin didn’t want to do anything that was irreversible. And he still wasn’t sure if he wanted to keep it or sell it.
Justin looked at the glowing core in his hand. “What would you suggest I do with it?”
Eldrin sat back, considering. “I’d say it’s worth seeing if it can harmonize with your class to create something unique first. But that’s just my opinion. I’m sure you could make a lot of gold from selling it, too, and that would be more immediately useful.”
“What about you?” Justin asked. “Could a Ranger Core and an Alchemy Core be combined?”
Eldrin shook his head. “No, not every combination works. Ranger and Alchemist is one you’d think would combine, but it doesn’t. But in certain cases, the combinations can be surprising. Take Alchemist and Bard, for example. Those two can combine, but the skills and boons you gain depend on which class you started with—even if the result is technically the same advanced class.”
Justin raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? What class does Alchemist and Bard create?”
“It creates the Songbrewer advanced class,” Eldrin explained. “If you start as a Bard, your potions and poisons become infused into your music, amplifying your songs to buff your allies or debuff enemies. But if you start as an Alchemist, it works the other way around—your songs get infused into the potions, giving them unique, powerful effects.”
Eldrin paused, recalling a memory. “I’ve only met one Songbrewer in all my travels, in Kazharik of all places. She created the class by starting as an Alchemist.”
“Bet you could make a fortune selling potions like that,” Lila said, her eyes widening at the thought.
Her gaze lingered on the core in Justin’s hand, almost as if it were her ticket to a better life. Justin couldn’t help but feel a flicker of unease. He hoped it wouldn’t come between them.
“Don’t let it out of your sight,” Lila said. “Whatever you do with it, it’s game changing.”
Justin put it back into his pack. He couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for both the potion and the core.
Eldrin leaned back, watching the embers drift into the night sky. “Tomorrow, we continue north. The Everwood awaits.”